Sunday 29 December 2013

Thursday 26 December 2013

Top UK Surgeons to Treat Patients for Free in AJK





London (December 2013): A team of around two-dozen senior doctors and surgeons from the UK will travel to the remote areas of Azad Kashmir in March next year to treat poor children and families for free. The visit is being organized by a UK based welfare charity, working in Azad Kashmir for over 21 years, as part of its 1000 Smiles4Kashmir programme. At a seminar in the House of Lords, the project coordinator Dr Adeel Iqbal announced that the delegation would stay in Azad Kashmir for two weeks and will administer treatment to at least 160 patients with complex surgical conditions, besides carrying a large quantity of medicines from the UK.

The seminar was hosted by Lord Eric Avebury, who has had a long interest in Kashmir and Pakistan, Lord Qurban Hussain, Ishfaq Ahmed, Professor Alan Fenwick from Imperial College, Professor Elio Riboli from Global Health London, Professor Majeed, Chair of Primary Care, Dr BK Sinha, Dr Charles Viva (Head of Interplast UK), Dr Mark Smith (Consultant Anaesthetist at The Royal Brompton Hospital), Alison Stutt (Head of International Development, Barts andLondon Hospital) and Dr Athar Khatib, a world renowned Consultant Ophthalmologist.

Dr Adeel Iqbal, who was born in Britain but his parents hail from Mangla in Azad Kashmir, said the recruitment for the project in March 2014, is actively underway and nurses, doctors, surgeons, anesthetists, logisticians and volunteers are being recruited. He told The News: “This will be the start of the biggest ever medical delegation that will travel to Azad Kashmir. There is so much poverty in parts of Azad Kashmir that some patients find it hard to travel to the central hospital where we are conducting our operations; therefore we will send doctors into these areas to carry out pre-operatives assessments to help triage patients. We need to use our resources and connections to help people in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir by providing them with a healthy lifestyle.”

He went on: “These efforts are in need of amplification and assimilation in other parts of the region to not only treat patients but train local surgeons to deal with complex pathology natively. I am delighted that medical students and doctors from the region want to send their students to learn from these delegations.” Ishfaq Ahmed, who heads the charity and is overseeing the initiative, said he is pleased with the progress being made but more needs to be done to serve the needs of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan. “I will be flying out to the region soon to increase the campaign to register patients from Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

We will also be launching the micro-credit project which will allow widowed women to start businesses to help sustain their families.” Consultant Surgeon Dr Charles Viva, who has already flown to the region twice in the last two years, commented that he has been very impressed with the staff at the Community Hospital in Jatlan, Mirpur, where he has been performing the operations. “I have seen extreme levels of sickness in the region. It’s unbelievable that while there is so much focus on the African countries and the plight of people there, it’s equally important the same level of attention should also be paid to regions like Pakistan where the level of diseases is only mounting by the day.” Lord Eric Avebury and Lord Qurban Hussain said they were impressed with this initiative, especially on such little overheads. They said the initiative needs support of anyone who cares for the medical needs of the poor families.

Reported by The News

Thursday 19 December 2013

Zakat Funds Misused in Azad Kashmir


Muzaffarabad, December 2013 : As if misappropriation of funds in general was not enough, the Prime Minister’s (PM) office in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has allegedly started interfering with the charitable Zakat fund, according to sources in the Zakat Department. The department has also recently received a handwritten letter from Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed directing it to provide Rs200,000 to a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) woman activist, according to the sources, requesting not to be named. “On the PM’s instructions, Rs50 million from the fund have already been distributed among politicians for their foreign trips and medical treatment.

During the last 11 months, funds in excess of Rs8.56 million have been given to former prime ministers, ministers and advisers.” About Rs3 million, earmarked for the treatment of poor patients, were given to some “financially-sound PPP workers.” About Rs80 million were distributed among the voters and supporters of the party. Out of these, Rs10 million, though, were given to the needy families, affiliated with the ruling party. “Besides the unfair distribution of funds meant for medical treatment and dowries for the needy, the premier has disbursed over Rs30 million allegedly to “favourites” without complying with the procedure of selecting beneficiaries, the sources added.

Maal aur Amaal - Pothwari Drama by Dadyal Online Productions



'Maal aur Amaal' is a Mirpuri drama by Dadyal Online Productions. It was released in episodes on the Dadyal Online YouTube channel from 25th December 2013. The drama has been filmed in Dadyal and all actors are locals. Sameer Hussain (MD Dadyal Online) has written, directed, produced, edited and starred in 'Maal aur Amaal'. The above video consists of all 5 episodes of the drama.

Daily Motion Link: Maal aur Amaal




























Daewoo Launches Bus Service from Mirpur to Lahore


December 19th 2013: Daewoo starts service from Mirpur to Lahore: Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service has introduced bus service from Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) to Lahore and Rawalpindi. Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s President, Sardar Yaqoob Ahmed inaugurated the bus service at a mega event which was also attended by Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service’s President, C.I. Park. While addressing the people, he said that Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service is honored to expand their bus service till Azad Kashmir. He also said that in order to promote tourism in Azad Kashmir, it is crucial to expand bus service along with expansion of road network. He also pointed out that the people of Mirpur will now have access to Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service’s widespread bus service network. He further went on to say that business men in Mirpur will now be able to take advantage of the company’s cargo services. At the event, Sardar Yaqoob Ahmed thanked C.I Park and acknowledged that this bus service has started a process of revolutionary change in the transport sector of Azad Kashmir. He also emphasized on the importance of foreign investment in Azad Kashmir especially in the transport sector and hoped that this step will lead to more investors coming in.

Monday 16 December 2013

Friday 13 December 2013

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Nadra Office Opening Dua in Dadyal


October 2013: Nadra Office opens in Dadyal which means that locals no longer have to go to Mirpur in order to have ID cards made. A lot of people will benefit from this office, saving both time and money. It was a promise by MLA Afsar Shahid which has been delivered. 

Friday 9 August 2013

Saturday 27 July 2013

Thursday 25 July 2013

No-Confidence Motion against AJK PM Abdul Majeed





AJK POLITICS (July 2013): The tussle over power in Azad Jammu and Kashmir seems to have reached the climax, as Barrister Sultan Mehmood-led camp has managed to get support of the required number of parliamentarians to topple the PPP-led government. Well placed sources said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed PML-N parliamentarians in the AJK assembly to remain impartial during the no-confidence vote against incumbent Prime Minister Abdul Majeed. Insiders said Sharif’s latest stance had been welcomed by AJK premier Majeed who was learnt to have thanked Sharif for discouraging his men from toppling his government. A no-confidence motion was brought against the AJK premier last Monday following which several ministers and advisers tendered their resignations.

Voting on the motion will be held in July 26 session of the AJK assembly, for which the speaker summoned the session on Wednesday. Eleven members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly would vote for Barrister Sultan, making it clear that the federal government was not behind the no-trust move, which was initiated by members of Pakistan People’s Party. Aides to Mehmood said at least 30 PPP ministers had submitted the no-confidence motion after tendering their resignations, he added.

Talking to The Nation Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir said he visited Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the invitation of Prime Minister Majeed last week. He said PML-N respected the mandate of all other parties and that the party leadership had advised its members to wait for elections. He said PML-N had been in a position to form governments in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but it respected the mandate of other parties, since it wanted to strengthen democracy.

He said PML-N according to its policy would try its best to eliminate corruption. AJK Prime Minister Majeed dismissed four ministers and two advisors of his cabinet from their offices with immediate effect, a private television reported citing Radio Pakistan. The ministers removed from office included Minister for Auqaf Muhammad Afsar Shahid, Minister for Rehabilitation Abdul Majid Khan, Minister for Power Chaudhry Arshad and Minister for Agriculture Sardar Akhtar Hussain Rabbani. The advisors removed were Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq and Muhammad Akmal Sargala.

Only a couple of days ago, the AJK cabinet also saw the resignation of six ministers following the submission of the no-confidence motion against the AJK premier by Mohammad Hussain and Majid Khan, two assembly members from Pakistan People’s Party. The ministers resigning – Barqiyat Chaudhry, Majid Khan, Akbar Ibrahim, Hussain Sargala, Afsar Shahid, Akhtar Hussain Rabbani and Azhar Gilani – were also joined by three advisors in voting for the no-confidence motion against Majeed. These ministers and advisers proposed the name of Sultan Mehmood who belonged to Pakistan People's Party as leader of the House.

Reported by The Nation

Monday 22 July 2013

No-Confidence Resolution against AJK PM Majeed

Muzaffarabad, July 22nd 2013: A no confidence resolution against Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed was submitted in the Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) Legislative Assembly secretariat by two ruling Peoples Party (PP-PaK) dissidents here on Monday. In order to fulfill a constitutional requirement, the resolution proposed the name of Barrister Sultan Mahmood a top PP-PaK leader who had held this office from 1996 to 2001 - as successor of the incumbent premier.

The no confidence move, which comes exactly two years after the installation of Majeed led government, was reminiscent of three such successful moves between 2009 and 2010, which had generated critical opprobrium for the previous assembly. “Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has caused irreparable harm to Kashmir freedom movement, identity of the state, governance and developmental activities besides violating merit, ruining institutions, unlawfully distributing development funds and inducting favourites, instead of eligible persons in the Public Service Commission,” read an excerpt from the resolution, submitted by minister for rehabilitation Abdul Majid Khan and MLA Muhammad Hussain Sargala.

Sunday 21 July 2013

Foortal Pakistan's Online Food Street Offering Pizza for 1 Rupee

Foortal is Pakistan’s innovative online food ordering website which is growing in popularity and becoming a craze amongst the youth in particular. The concept is simple, wherever you are you can order yourself a meal via Foortal. You no longer have to hassle yourself, browsing through several websites, searching for the best deals and products. Foortal removes the head ache out of ordering food, it’s much better than repeating your order on the phone several times and still being misheard or receiving food you didn’t even order! 

You can even use the Android application on your smartphone to place your order. The Foortal team is packed with young and talented individuals; they know exactly what a Food Portal must offer to its customers. Recently, the ‘Rupiya Offer’ was a super hit across Pakistan with record numbers of new customers registering on Foortal. The concept is amazing; you get yourself a Domino’s Pizza delivered for only 1 Rupee, yes that’s right – you only pay 1 Rupee. Only the first 50 people to order as soon as the offer becomes active, may take advantage of it, so the quickest and luckiest will take the deal. 

Some customers have expressed disappointment at missing out on the deal but it is to be repeated again and of course with such popular offers, a little bit of luck is needed to take the 1 Rs. Pizza! Foortal is the new face of Pakistan: innovative, dynamic and ready to serve customers in style. The variety is amazing, whether you’d like a Chicken Sandwich from Subway or Reshmi Kebabs from Lal Qila, Foortal is waiting for your order.

Thursday 18 July 2013

Pakistani Tourists visit Neelum Valley

Neelum Valley: Success stories can be rare in Pakistan, but business is booming in one Kashmir tourist spot as the region rebuilds after a devastating earthquake and shrugs off associations with violence. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani tourists drawn to the lakes and glaciers of the Neelum valley are injecting desperately needed money into one of the poorest parts of the country. Westerners stopped coming to the Himalayas of Pakistani-Kashmir years ago, put off by its reputation as a training ground for militant groups and the risk of sporadic conflict with India. But with a new road built by the Chinese after the 2005 earthquake killed 73,000 people and a ceasefire holding with India, Pakistanis are discovering the snow-capped peaks, glaciers, lakes and lush-green meadows of the Neelum valley.

Known locally as “Paradise on Earth,” the valley is 114 kilometres east of the base camp where gunmen shot dead American, Chinese, Lithuanian, Slovakian and Ukranian climbers in June. It was the worst attack on foreigners in Pakistan for a decade, but in neighbouring Kashmir, few Pakistanis are worried. “There is a bit of fear there, but overall we are enjoying ourselves and we will stay according to our plan,” said Mohammad Amir, a lawyer on holiday with his family from southern Punjab. Munazza Tariq, a university student from Karachi, agrees. “This was carried out by enemies of Pakistan. After it happened, we received a lot of calls from our relatives from Karachi, but we are safe and enjoying ourselves,” said Munazza. Local tourism ministry official Shehla Waqar says 600,000 people visited Neelum last year compared to 130,000 in 2010, before the Chinese built a road linking the area to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir. “There is an influx of tourists in the area because we have a very beautiful road from Muzaffarabad to the Neelum Valley,” she said.

The nearby Line of Control slices apart the Indian and Pakistani-held zones of the Himalayan region where a ceasefire has held since November 2003. “This area is very peaceful and there is no fear of terrorism,” said Waqar. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir. Sporadic clashes killed six soldiers in January and February, but officials on both sides have kept tensions in check and newly elected prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has put improving relations with India at the cornerstone of his foreign policy. By contrast, Taliban attacks in the northwest – where mountain resorts have in the past sucked domestic tourism away from Kashmir – and the impact of crippling power cuts pushing people towards balmier climes is also driving visitor numbers higher, Waqar said. There are now 115 registered guesthouses in the Neelum valley, local deputy commissioner Mohammad Farid told AFP, compared to none in 2010.

The authorities say they have stepped up security after the climbers were killed in Gilgit-Baltistan, but because tourists in Kashmir are Pakistani rather than foreign, they are not braced for a serious knock-on effect. “We have strict instructions that all government and private guesthouses are to close their main gates at 10pm,” Kashmir tourism minister Abdul Salam Butt told AFP. “No doubt this incident has damaged international tourism in Pakistan, but it won’t affect Kashmir because we host domestic tourists,” he added. Raja Zarat Khan, who owns a private guesthouse, said he was fully booked into the next week and he had no cancellations. “I’m having a great season,” he said. Mohammad Awais, 44, runs a restaurant, a string of guesthouses and now also takes tour groups to the Neelum Valley. “This business has changed my life. Last year I did excellent trade because I gave tourists a lot of incentives: hiking, trekking, fishing, boating.

The environment in Neelum Valley is very good. Once you enter the valley, no one wants to leave.” He also doesn’t expect the Gilgit shootings to have a major impact. “It hasn’t made a big difference – perhaps four to five percent because the elite class, who come here, feel insecure, but no one has cancelled any bookings. People are still coming,” he said. The boom is welcome in a region where many men have traditionally left behind their families to work in Pakistan’s largest cities. Awais has hired cleaners, cooks, drivers and tourist guides: all men who would otherwise be unemployed. Suppliers have benefited. Villagers even sell their freshly grown cherries, apricots and plums to tourists. But others warn that more needs to be done to sustain the boom across the rest of Azad Kashmir. “There are some beautiful places in our area, but there are no proper roads available and the tourists can’t go to these areas,” said Khawaja Abdul Samad, who is thinking about opening his own hotel. 

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Chaudhary Aftab Dadyal Online Interview - July 2013


Dadyal Online presents an interview of Chaudhary Aftab by Noman Kamal. Chaudhary Aftab is a prominent politician from Dadyal and a member of Nawaz Sharif's party PML-N. Filmed by Sameer Hussain on Monday 1st July 2013 in Birmingham, UK. The interview has 12 parts which have been uploaded on both YouTube and Facebook (see below for links). 

YouTube Links 

Part 1: http://youtu.be/NAyAK8AUQM0

Part 2: http://youtu.be/OTSTkhsXPW4

Part 3: http://youtu.be/6fvgvbKxOqc

Part 4: http://youtu.be/tsCCqg3Ii7g

Part 5: http://youtu.be/koZQk93lHbU

Part 6: http://youtu.be/1qriqluNn0k

Part 7: http://youtu.be/sXA0Mgw3Jqs

Part 8: http://youtu.be/FACKczldtYQ

Part 9: http://youtu.be/RjPb_vC6B3A

Part 10: http://youtu.be/gkWfQN864oM

Part 11: http://youtu.be/Ps_mWfb5V3Y

Part 12: http://youtu.be/1w1oF3ddl7g

Facebook Links 

Part 1: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151560734413261

Part 2: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151560986258261

Part 3: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151562549698261

Part 4: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151562795518261

Part 5: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151563996828261

Part 6: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151564495248261

Part 7: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151570534643261

Part 8: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151570693788261

Part 9: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151570986033261

Part 10: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151571141508261

Part 11: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151571356513261

Part 12: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151572085058261


Thursday 4 July 2013

Man arrested in Kotli for making bomb threat to Geo News

KOTLI: Police arrested a man for making a bomb threat to Geo News. According to the police, Yasir, 20, a resident of Qamroti village of Kotli in Azad Kashmir, had made a telephone call to Geo News office, saying that he would blow up the TV’s office with a bomb.

The Bomb Disposal Squad had cleared the office following a search that lasted for several hours. The police traced the accused with the help of intelligence personnel and lodged an FIR against him under Telegraph Act. Yasir told police that he had called the Geo News office and said that a blast would took place at the TV’s building within 30 minutes.

Thursday 13 June 2013

AJK Footballer drowns - Two teammates rescued





Karachi: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Football Association’s team had to pull out of the National Under-16 Football Championship after one of their defenders drowned in the canal which originates from Mangla Dam in Mirpur on Thursday evening. Tahir’s funeral was held on Friday, said mournful Muzaffar Noori, vice-president AJK Football Association, while talking to ‘The News’ from Mirpur. Tahir’s two teammates, Sheraz and Amjad, were rescued and shifted to the District Hospital Mirpur for treatment.“Sheraz and Amjad have regained consciousness and are in a slightly better condition,” Muzaffar said. The incident occurred after the team’s practice session in the evening on Thursday.

“Amjad was the first to fall into the canal. Tahir and Sheraz dived in to save him but due to high speed of the water they also failed to control themselves,” Muzaffar narrated. Luckily the local people watched them fighting for life and retrieved them from the deep waters of the Chechian canal which flows in great speed and is about 70 feet deep, he said. “Tahir was almost dead when he was retrieved,” said Muzaffar. “It was a tragic incident,” Muzaffar said.“The deceased Tahir, son of Arshad, was a new player and quite talented,” the official said.

After the tragic incident the team could not be sent to Abbottabad. Meanwhile, the draws of the National Under-16 Championship were held at the Kunj Stadium in Abbottabad on Friday.According to an official of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Islamabad team also failed to arrive. A source said that due to examination of the players the federal capital team was not sent for the tournament. The remaining eleven teams have been placed in four groups. Group A carries Punjab, Peshawar Youth and hosts Abbottabad, while Group B has Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi Youth. Balochistan, Lahore Youth and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been adjusted in Group C, while Group D comprises Sindh, Quetta Youth and Gilgit Baltistan. “All the teams have been lodged in good places and the tournament will kick off tomorrow,” a PFF official said. Balochistan will face FATA in the opening match to be held at 5:00pm on Saturday (today).

PFF Director Development and Competitions Wing Commander (retd) Pervez Saeed Mir and members of the Technical Study Group (TSG) have reached the city where the weather is quite pleasant and suitable for football. The Kunj Stadium where the event is being staged is located inside the city and is close to the Taj Mahal Hotel. The event is very important because the PFF will pick talented boys for forming the national Under-16 team for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship Qualifiers to be hosted by Karachi in September.

Thursday 6 June 2013

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Interview with Afsar Shahid Minister of Dadyal by Sameer Hussain of Dadyal Online



The Dadyal Online Afsar Shahid Interview

Dadyal Online (http://www.dadyal.pk/) presents an interview with Chaudhary Afsar Shahid MLA of Dadyal by Sameer Hussain in Birmingham, UK. June 3rd 2013. 

Part 1: Intro. & Purpose of Visit
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151509017958261

Part 2: Achievements & Mirpur Airport
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151509952678261

Part 3: Use of Zakat Funds
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151510130788261

Part 4: Criminals targeting the British
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151510397013261

Part 5: Electricity & Roads
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151510757678261

Part 6: Not living in Dadyal as much
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151511325743261

Part 7: Education in Dadyal
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151511377578261

Part 8: Thanking Supporters in UK
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151511470683261

Part 9: Politics, Rivals & Elections.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151511649103261

YouTube Link (full interview in one video): http://youtu.be/tZCYIoHFQTo

Website Link: http://www.dadyal.pk/2013/06/interview-with-afsar-shahid-minister-of.html































 
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